End bit for earthmoving equipment



em 6, H66 W. E. FREEMAN END BIT FOR EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT Filed April 15, 1964 WWI/ e E. Freeman I N VliN TOR.

United States Patent M 3,289,331 END BIT FOR EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT Willie E. Freeman, 140 E. 4th St., Gold Beach, Oreg. Filed Apr. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 360,037 4 Claims. (Cl. 37-143) This invention comprises a novel and useful end bit for earthmoving equipment and more particularly pertains to a cutting bit of a novel and improved construction and its mounting upon the moldboard of earthworking equlpment.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a means of a simple, practical and inexpensive construction, yet capable of ready attachment to a moldboard for greatly increasing the efficiency and the durability of the cutting edge of the moldboard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding object which may be readily applied as a replaceable attachment to a moldboard.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cutting bit for a moldboard which shall obtain a superior angle of attack upon the material being moved by the moldboard.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a moldboard cutting bit which shall be self-sharpening during its use.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a moldboard cutting bit which shall be highly resistant to the rounding of the ends of its cutting edge through wear.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide a moldboard cutting bit having efiective shielding and protecting means substantially eliminating the destruction of the bit fastening means by which it is attached to the moleboard through the abrasive action thereon of the material being handled by the moldboard.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cutting bit in accordance with the foregoing objects in which a combined stiffening and reinforcing means for the blade of the bit is provided and which means will additionally function as a protective device for shielding the fastening means against the abrasive action of the material being handled by the moldboard.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cutting bit attachment for moldboards which shall in conformity with the preceding objects include a rigid onepiece structure incorporating therein the advantages of a relatively soft mounting portion, a relatively hard cutting edge portion and a protective end wall secured to both the mounting and cutting edge portions.

And a final important object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the provision of a cutting bit having its outer faces relatively harder and more wear-resistant than its inner faces whereby the abrasive action of the material being handled will maintain the cutting edges sharpened.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the front portiton of an earthmoving apparatus having a moldboard to which the cutting bits of this invention have been applied;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a cutting bit in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and,

FIGURE 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken 3,289,331 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 1.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally theimproved cutting bit in accordance with this invention. Although its use is not necessarily limited thereto, the invention is shown as being mounted upon a conventional type of moldboard 12 carried by any suitable earthworking apparatus such as a tractor vehicle 14. Inasmuch as the details of the apparatus 14 orthe moldboard 12 may be of any conventional type and in themselves form no part ofthe invention set forth and claimed hereinafter, but will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, a further description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary for the purposes of this invention.

As shown in FIGURE 1, two of the cutting bits 10 are shown applied to the forward cutting edge of the moldboard 12 at the opposite ends thereof. In some instances, it may be preferred to provide more than two such bits disposed at various positions along the cutting edge. However, this bit as disclosed herein is peculiarly adapted for use at the two opposite ends of the moldboard front edge as will be subsequently apparent.

The cutting bit of this invention comprises preferably a onepiece rigid body consisting of three main components welded together. Thus, there is provided a cutting blade designated generally by the numeral 16 and which consists of a rear or mounting portion 18 comprising a flat plate of suitable material and preferably of a soft, mild or rolled steel character, to the front edge .o fw hich is secured as by welding material 20 a for-wardciitting edge portion 22 likewise comprising a plate which, however, is of relatively hard material such as tool steel or the like. As shown, the twoplates are disposed coplanar, although in some instances they may be joined to provide a dihedral angle if desired.

Secured to one edge of the cutting blade 16 is an end wall 24 preferably in the form of a triangular plate and which is joined to the alined side edges of the portions 18 and 22 as by a welded joint 26. From FIGURE 4 it will be observed that the end wall or plate24 is at an obtuse angle to the plates 18 and 22.

The front edges of the cutting portion 22 and of the end wall 24 are beveled as at 27 and 28% respectively to provide knife edges thereon. It will be observed that the cutting edge 27 is inclined-with respect to the front cutting edge of the moldboard 12 so that the cutting edge has a slicing action as itis forced through the ground by movement of the apparatus 14.

An important feature of the invention resides in the forming of the inner faces of the plates 22 and 24 of a relatively softer character than the outer faces thereof. This may be accomplished in various ways as by various surface treatments of the material or even the forming of the plate members which constitute the device of a laminated construction. In any event, the bevel edges 27 and 28 taper'from their forward ends and from the outer faces of the associated plates to the inner faces thereof. Consequently, as the blades are forced through the soil, the wearing or abrasive action thereon will be effective to wear the softer inner face faster than it does the harder outer face thereby maintaining the beveled edges 27 and 28 in a sharpened condition.

The side walls 24 serve the very useful purposes of greatly strengthening the plate configuration of the portions 18 and 22 and joining them together. In addition, they are disposed at the edges or sides of the moldboard 12 and inasmuch as the side walls project forwardly more than do the inclined bevels 27, they tend to prevent excessive wearing or rounding of the outside edges of the cutting surfaces.

Means are provided for detachably securing and mounting the cutting bits upon the moldboard. For this purpose, the latter is provided with a plurality of bores 30 therethrough and the rear or mounting portion 18 is likewise provided with a plurality of registering bores or apertures 32 in order that fasteners such as bolts, rivets or the like may be employed to removably but rigidly secure the rear or mounting plate 18 upon the moldboard with the cutting edges and cutting portion 22 projecting forwardly of the front edge of the moldboard as shown in FIGURE 1. When it is necessary to replace a cutting bit it is merely required to remove the fasteners and then replace a bit and restore the fasteners.

In order to prevent attrition from the material being handled by the moldboard from destroying the fasteners where their heads project to the top surface of the portion 18, there are provided protective guarding and shielding means in the form of upstanding ribs as indicated at 34. These ribs may be conveniently welded upon or may be formed integrally with the rear or base portion 18. The ribs project upwardly to a sufficient distance and on both sides of the associated fasteners so as to prevent material such as rocks and the like as they are scooped up by the moldboard from abrading and destroying the heads of the fasteners. Further, the ribs serve as reinforcing means which stiffen and strengthen the material of the rear portion 18.

A further important benefit of this construction is that the relatively softer and more resilient material of the rear portion 18 can be readily deformed as necessary to intimately engage the contour of the front edge of the moldboard 12 when the fasteners are tightened. If the entire device were made of the relatively hard and more brittle material of the cutting portion 22, such necessary deformation would not be possible and the device would break when the fasteners were properly tightened.

Accordingly, by this arrangement there is produced a device which not only has a secure sturdy attachment to the moldboard but also the advantages of an extremely hard cutting edge which is self-sharpening, is reinforced at its corners to prevent rounding and damage thereto.

The foregoing is considered as illustrated only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A bit for use with the moldboard of an earthmoving device comprising a one-piece body including a cutting blade and an end wall rigidly secured to an end of said blade, the front edges of said blade and end wall projecting forwardly of the front edge of said moldboard and with said end wall being positioned at the side edge of said moldboard, the forward edges of said blade and end wall being beveled and constituting edges and being inclined rearwardly from the outer to the inner faces of said body, means fixedly attaching said body upon said moldboard, said outer faces being relatively more wearresistant than said inner faces whereby wear maintains said cutting edges beveled and sharpened, said blade cutting edge being inclined rearwardly from said end wall toward the front edge of said moldboard, said blade including a rear mounting portion and a forward or cutting portion, said rear portion being relatively softer and more yieldable than said forward portion and constituting the sole means of attachment of said body to said moldboard, said attaching means comprising fasteners extending through said blade into said moldboard, longitudinally extending bar-like reinforcing ribs rising from said blade adjacent and extending above said fasteners and constituting both a stiffening and reinforcing means for said blade and a protecting means for said fasteners, said ribs extending along a major portion of the length of said blade.

2. A bit for use with the moldboard of an earthmoving device comprising a one-piece body including a cutting blade and an end wall rigidly secured to an end of said blade, the front edges of said blade and end Wall projecting forwardly of the front edge of said moldboard and with said end wall being positioned at the side edge of said moldboard, the forward edges of said blade and end wall being beveled and constituting edges and being inclined rearwardly from the outer to the inner faces of said body, means fixedly attaching said body upon said moldboard, said blade including a rear mounting portion and a forward cutting portion, said rear portion being relatively softer and more yieldable than said forward portion and constituting the sole means of attachment of said body to said moldboard, said attaching means comprising fasteners extending through said blade into said moldboard, longitudinally extending bar-like reinforcing ribs rising from said blade adjacent and extending above said fasteners and constituting both a stiffening and reinforcing means for said blade and a protecting means for said fasteners, said ribs extending along a major portion of the length of said blade.

3. A bit for use with the moldboard of an earthmoving device comprising a one-piece body including a cutting blade and an end wall rigidly secured to an end of said blade, the front edges of said blade and end wall projecting forwardly of the front edge of said moldboard and with said end wall being positioned at the side edge of said moldboard, the forward edges of said blade and end wall being beveled and constituting edges and being inclined rearwardly from the outer to the inner faces of said body, means fixedly attaching said body upon said moldboard, said outer faces being relatively more wear-resistant than said inner faces whereby wear maintains said cutting edges beveled and sharpened, said blade including a rear mounting portion and a forward cutting portion, said rear portion being relatively soft and more yieldable than said forward portion and constituting the sole means of attachment of said body to said moldboard, said attaching means comprising fasteners extending through said blade into said moldboard, longitudinally extending bar-like reinforcing ribs rising from said blade adjacent and extending above said fasteners and constituting both a stiffening and reinforcing means for said blade and a protecting means for said fasteners, said ribs extending along a major portion of the length of said blade.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said end wall is disposed at an obtuse angle to said blade.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,073,801 3/1937 Linden 172-719 2,965,989 12/1960 Hibbard 37-143 3,021,626 2/1962 Eyvolfson 37-141 3,029,534 4/1962 Rakisits 37-l41 3,215,174 11/1965 Billings 37l43 X ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM A. SMITH III, Examiner. 

2. A BIT FOR USE WITH THE MOLDBOARD OF AN EARTHMOVING DEVICE COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE BODY INCLUDING A CUTTING BLADE AND AN END WALL RIGIDLY SECURED TO AN END OF SAID BLADE, THE FRONT EDGES OF SAID BLADE AND END WALL PROJECTING FORWARDLY OF THE FRONT EDGE OF SAID MOLDBOARD AND WITH SAID END WALL BEING POSITIONED AT THE SIDE EDGE OF SAID MOLDBOARD, THE FORWARD EDGES OF SAID BLADE AND END WALL BEING BEVELED AND CONSTIUTING EDGES AND BEING INCLINED REARWARDLY FROM THE OUTER TO THE INNER FACES OF SAID BODY, MEANS FIXEDLY ATTACHING SAID BODY UPON SAID MOLDBOARD, SAID BLADE INCLUDING A REAR MOUNTING PORTION AND A FORWARD CUTTING PORTION, SAID REAR PORTION BEING RELATIVELY SOFTER AND MORE YIELDABLE THAN SAID FORWARD PORTION AND CONSTITUTING THE SOLE MEANS OF ATTACHMENT OF SAID BODY TO SAID MOLDBOARD, SAID ATTACHING MEANS COMPRISING FASTENERS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BLADE INTO SAID MOLDBOARD, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BAR-LIKE REINFORCING RIBS RISING FROM SAID BLADE ADJACENT AND EXTENDING ABOVE SAID FASTENERS AND CONSTITUTING BOTH A STIFFENING AND REINFORCING MEANS FOR SAID BLADE AND A PROTECTING MEANS FOR SAID FASTENERS, SAID RIBS EXTENDING ALONG A MAJOR PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF SAID BLADE. 